By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday said it welcomed the imminent arrival of number portability on September 3, adding that it had retained “the lion’s share” of fixed-line customers despite Cable Bahamas’ market entrance.

Emphasising that BTC did not fear competition, Marlon Johnson, its vice-president of brand marketing, said the carrier was focused on creating the “best value proposition” to convince consumers to stay with it.

“BTC has gone on record as saying we are a big proponent of competition because it’s good for the sector and good for the consumer,” he told Tribune Business.

“It’s something we’re aware of, and will be abide by URCA’s mandate. We have superior products and services, and people will stay with us even as we port the numbers.

“The lion’s share of customers are happy to stay with us despite the competition, and we will roll out more interesting products and services in the coming months, with customers having an even mote compelling reason to say with us.”

The goal of number portability, which allows Bahamian business and residential consumers to switch their phone provider while still keeping the same number, is to boost consumer choice and empowerment, and enhance sector competition.

Responding to this, Mr Johnson said of BTC: “Our goal for this year is to improve the customer experience, all the touch points - the retail network, devising apps and online contacts for customers to do things themselves.

“We’re going to continue to invest in the network, making sure it’s robust and, over time, consistently look at the value proposition.

“We’re not going to force customers to stay with us; they’re going to want to stay with us because we offer the best value proposition. That is the focus of the company, and has to be if we’re going to be successful in the long-term.

“We feel we’re already on the right track, and BTC will be the winning provider of choice on all elements.”